Inside sources at the presidency’s quarters have revealed that the political think- thank of the President have resolved that an endorsement for Wike will eventually pitch President Goodluck Jonathan’s camp against his kinsmen of the Ijaw ethnicity who are expectedly hoping to take over the exalted seat after Gov. Rotimi Amaechi in 2015.
Besides, the recent utterance by Chairman, Rivers People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Felix Obuah at Ahoada East during the inauguration of the Grassroots Development Initiative, seems to have generated more irritation than otherwise expected amidst the current crises rocking the Rivers State PDP faction led by Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, the Minister for State, Education.
Obuah caused a major stir within the camp of the group headed by Wike, after his declaration of the intentions of Wike to seek the highest seat of power in the state was circulated in the media.
According to reports, Obuah’s unguarded statements were said to have sent a signal to the powers that be in Abuja that Wike’s recent political romance with the presidency’s household has part of a plot to partake in the 2015 guber elections.
Some unnamed members of the Obuah’s faction described him as “inexperienced, less exposed and incompetent to play the politics at the centre because he possess no finesse and charisma” and with this, might have shot himself in the foot when he declared that Wike is the next governor of Rivers State.
Despite the loud ovation from the audience which trailed Obuah’s pronouncement, it however did not go down well with Wike who is said to have been secretly plotting his way into the much-coveted gubernatorial seat but has being portraying his rivalry against Gov. Chibuike Amaechi as a staunch supporter of the president’s second term ambition.
It was also garnered that the Ijaw people in Rivers State comprising of Kalabaris, Okrikans, Andonis, Bonnys and the Opobos are already bonding to create a formidable opposition against any plan by Wike to impose himself on the people of the State.
A prominent traditional ruler, Alabo George Tamuno-Dagogo recently, in the media, dismissed Wike’s plans and his unsuspecting supporters as those who will work for others to benefit from in the long run.
Tamuno-Dagogo said that it is now clear that the purported opposition against Amaechi is for “the interest of one man whose penchant is known to us”.
“He has deceived people to follow him in the plot to stop Amaechi at all cost while he is positioning himself to become governor.
“We now know better and we are going to resist him at all cost”, he said.
The supporters of the minister are however current strategising on how to replace Obuah who they now see as having been used to oust the former Chairman of the Party in the state who was Amaechi’s loyalist. This is ongoing alongside the clamor by the other ethnic groups particularly the Ijaws and the Ogonis to stop Wike from amassing political strength beyond this stage.
There are also fears that Obuah might eventually sell out to Gov. Amaechi hence biting the fingers that once fed him.
Gov. Amaechi had helped him to South Africa for multiple surgeries when there was an assassination attempt on his life in 2008.
Nevertheless, sources also close to Obuah revealed that “the former Chairman of Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni LGA feels indebted to Amaechi and may eventually truncate Wike’s plans to become governor”.
Agogo News reported that Obuah had complained of Wike’s high – handedness particularly when he was the Chairman of Obio/ Akpor LGA and eventually the National Chairman of ALGON.
Source also said the two men have never been best of friends even when they both served as local council chairmen, and Wike being suspicious of this is said to have concluded plans to replace Obuah before the 2015 elections.
According to reports by Agogo News, the renewed crisis in the ruling Party may portend grave danger if the leaders of the Party do not wade in as the result may be likened to the scenario in Anambra State and Imo States where the opposition took over the reins of power from the once formidable PDP.
On his part, Gov. Amaechi insisted that he will remain unperturbed about the crisis rocking the state party but would only remain focused and committed to his administrations transformation agenda, describing the antagonists in the state as enemies of progress.
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